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Hún tilkynnir vinnufélaganum sínum um nýja frestinn.

Hún tilkynnir vinnufélaganum sínum um nýja frestinn.
She informs her coworker about the new deadline.

Breakdown of Hún tilkynnir vinnufélaganum sínum um nýja frestinn.

hún
she
nýr
new
um
about
sinn
her
tilkynna
to inform
vinnufélaginn
the coworker
fresturinn
the deadline
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Questions & Answers about Hún tilkynnir vinnufélaganum sínum um nýja frestinn.

Why is vinnufélaganum in the dative case?

Because tilkynna commonly takes a recipient in the dative: tilkynna einhverjum = inform someone / notify someone.
So vinnufélaganum is dative singular definite of vinnufélagi (coworker), meaning to the coworker.

What does the ending -num in vinnufélaganum mean?

It’s the combination of:

  • the definite article suffix (the -inn/-inn/-ið system, which changes by case), and
  • the dative singular ending.

In other words, vinnufélaganum = to the coworker (not just to a coworker).

Why is sínum used instead of hennar?

sínum is the reflexive possessive (from sinn) and it refers back to the subject (Hún).
So vinnufélaganum sínum means to her (own) coworker.

If you used hennar, it would typically suggest the coworker belongs to some other female person already being talked about (i.e., not reflexive to the subject), depending on context.

Why does sínum have the form sínum (and not sinn/sína/sínu)?

Because it must agree with the noun it modifies (vinnufélaganum):

  • gender: masculine (vinnufélagi)
  • number: singular
  • case: dative (because of tilkynna einhverjum)

So the matching form is sínum (masc. dat. sg.).

Why is it um nýja frestinn—what is um doing here?

um introduces what the notification is about: tilkynna einhverjum um eitthvað = inform someone about something.
The preposition um governs the accusative, so frestinn is in the accusative.

Why is frestinn accusative, and what is its base form?

Because um takes the accusative here.
The base dictionary form is frestur (masculine). Its accusative singular definite form is frestinn.

A quick mini-paradigm (singular, with definite article) is roughly:

  • nominative: fresturinn
  • accusative: frestinn
  • dative: frestinum
  • genitive: frestsins
Why is the adjective nýja (not nýjan)?

Because frestinn is definite (the deadline), Icelandic usually uses the weak adjective form with definite nouns.

So you get:

  • nýja frestinn = the new deadline (weak adjective)

Whereas with an indefinite noun you’d typically use the strong form:

  • nýjan frest = a new deadline (strong adjective)
What does the verb form tilkynnir tell me?

tilkynnir is:

  • present tense
  • 3rd person singular
  • from the verb tilkynna (to notify, announce, inform)

So it matches Hún (she): Hún tilkynnir = she notifies/informs.

Is the word order fixed here, or could it change?

This is a very neutral, common order: Subject – Verb – Indirect object – Prepositional phrase
Hún (S) tilkynnir (V) vinnufélaganum sínum (IO) um nýja frestinn (PP)

You can move elements for emphasis, but Icelandic still follows the V2 rule in main clauses (the finite verb tends to be in the second position). For example, you could front the topic:

  • Um nýja frestinn tilkynnir hún vinnufélaganum sínum.
    This emphasizes about the new deadline.
How is this roughly pronounced (especially tilkynnir)?

A rough guide:

  • Hún ≈ hoon (with a long ú)
  • tilkynnir ≈ til-kin-ir, but with Icelandic ky sounding like a palatal k (closer to kyi than ku/kee)
  • vinnufélaganum ≈ VINN-uh-fyelay-uh-num
  • sínum ≈ SEE-num
  • um ≈ um (short)
  • nýja ≈ NEE-ya (ý is like a long “ee” sound)
  • frestinn ≈ FRES-tin (short i)

(Exact pronunciation varies by speaker, but stress is generally on the first syllable of Icelandic words.)